The temperature difference in the air creates a deceptive effect, making us see the ship move without touching the water.
Monika Shaffner recorded a natural phenomenon when a ship appeared to be floating near water on a beach in Mount Maunganui last week. The phenomenon Shaffner encountered was the result of a visual illusion named Fata Morgana.
Fata Morgana is an illusion that distorts objects in the distance, which can be encountered on land or at sea. This phenomenon occurs when sunlight heats the air above the ground or water, creating a temperature difference. The air near the surface is relatively cool and the more the air layers heat up.
When it shines through the boundary between two layers of gas with different temperatures and densities, the light is bent and moved at a different angle. The human brain by default moves light in a straight line. Therefore, when the light is twisted, we are confused about the position of the object. Fata Morgana not only deforms, but also makes an object bigger or smaller.
